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Trophy Son: A Novel
" Trophy Son brings Conroy's The Great Santini and Malamud's The Natural into the present day...A terrific book." -Harlan Coben
New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt’s third novel, Trophy Son, tells the story of a tennis prodigy, from young childhood to the finals of the US Open, Wimbledon, and other tournaments around the world.
Growing up in the wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia, Anton Stratis is groomed to be one thing the #1 tennis player in the world. Trained relentlessly by his obsessive father, a former athlete who plans every minute of his son’s life, Anton both aspires to greatness and resents its all-consuming demands. Lonely and isolated―removed from school and socialization to focus on tennis―Anton explodes from nowhere onto the professional scene and soon becomes one of the top-ranked players in the world, with a coach, a trainer, and an entourage.
But as Anton struggles to find a balance between stardom and family, he begins to make compromises―first with himself, then with his health, and finally with the rules of tennis, a mix that will threaten to destroy everything he has worked for.
Trophy Son offers an inside look at the dangers of extraordinary pressure to achieve, whether in sports or any field, through the eyes of a young man defying his parents’ ambitions as he seeks a life of his own.
A USA Today Notable Book
A New York Post "Must Read" Book
"Keenly observed and provocative." - Sports Illustrated
New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt’s third novel, Trophy Son, tells the story of a tennis prodigy, from young childhood to the finals of the US Open, Wimbledon, and other tournaments around the world.
Growing up in the wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia, Anton Stratis is groomed to be one thing the #1 tennis player in the world. Trained relentlessly by his obsessive father, a former athlete who plans every minute of his son’s life, Anton both aspires to greatness and resents its all-consuming demands. Lonely and isolated―removed from school and socialization to focus on tennis―Anton explodes from nowhere onto the professional scene and soon becomes one of the top-ranked players in the world, with a coach, a trainer, and an entourage.
But as Anton struggles to find a balance between stardom and family, he begins to make compromises―first with himself, then with his health, and finally with the rules of tennis, a mix that will threaten to destroy everything he has worked for.
Trophy Son offers an inside look at the dangers of extraordinary pressure to achieve, whether in sports or any field, through the eyes of a young man defying his parents’ ambitions as he seeks a life of his own.
A USA Today Notable Book
A New York Post "Must Read" Book
"Keenly observed and provocative." - Sports Illustrated
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 12, 2018
93 people are currently reading
1670 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Brunt
6 books233 followersDouglas Brunt is an American novelist, historian, podcast host for SiriusXM, and entrepreneur. He was the CEO of Authentium, Inc., an Internet security company, which he sold in 2011.
Brunt is The New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His narrative history titles include THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL and THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL.
More information at www.douglasbrunt.com
Brunt is The New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His narrative history titles include THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL and THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL.
More information at www.douglasbrunt.com
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April 8, 2017
"An elite athlete must have a willingness to suffer. There's the endurance training through thresholds a physical pain. There's also the mental and emotional sacrifice to narrow the world. A willingness to suffer is either born in us or beaten in early".
It helps to like TENNIS if you choose to read this book ---which I do!!!!!
To say there is not descriptions about 'tennis' itself - intensive training- matches -and tournaments -etc. would be misleading.
A tennis tour is brutal. December is the only month off. Eleven straight months of pounding, hours a day, every day, tournament after tournament is the lifestyle of the elite tennis pros. Toss in a few flights to Australia and around Europe--living in hotel rooms-add a psychiatrist-physical trainer- an academic tutor if under age - no friends- no parties -no drinking or girls who might distract --and a father who's entire being is dominated by the 'one-on-one' correlation between his happiness and his sons winning so that 'he' - Dad -could be very happy. Yep: ALL AROUND BRUTAL!!!!
I inhaled this novel in one big yummy gulp! I enjoyed reading about Anton Stratis's life. I'm not a masochist. I don't get gratification by another persons suffering, unhappiness, physical pain, humiliation, or imposed abuse by others -- father's/coaches pushing -not allowing a drink of water until they say so ....etc. However, this story was genuinely intellectually rigorous, emotionally engrossing, and I just never once wanted to put it down. Anton never came off as a victim. As he grew from a little boy - from even around age 9 and up - we see him begin to search out his own voice - his own identity - but that's different than being a whiny.
We learn early from Anton ---that for him winning never felt as good as losing a match felt as bad. His reason was when he was winning a game, those wins were for someone else. When he lost a game, those losses were all on him.
Anton was a pro tennis player. We take the journey with him as he tells us about his life story with tennis.....eating, living, breathing, every moment of his life - his driven purpose was to be the top #1 Pro tennis player......However, his willingness to suffer --- was 'planned' for him before he was even born. Both his parents were in the Olympics. His dad for swimming- his mother for skiing......Anton 'was' gifted at tennis - but without his dad directing every move he made, his choices may have been different.
Not yet 18 years of age, people all around him were talking life altering-drugs. In order to go Pro - which is what was about to happen -his dad & coach decided he needed to take steroids. An advantage in in tennis game ( if not caught). The trade off was putting crap into his body.
A favorite minor supporting character in this story is Anton's older brother, Panos.
Anton marveled at his older brother. He loved everything about him. He was fun and easy going - and he made life look naturally enjoyable. Panos love his younger brother Anton -- really loved 'him'.... and not just because of his tennis playing.
A sad moment in this story for me ---which should have been a happy one --( and it still was in some ways), was when Panos was getting married to this great girl he had been living with for six years. By this time, Anton, was a big name -- but Anton had put some distance between he and his father -- so at the wedding -Dad was 'most' happy to see Anton. Dad wanted to make sure that Panos and his bride Kristie didn't hog the limelight from Anton at their 'own' wedding.
"Panos took it in the same relief and sadness as he always did. It hurts not to be chosen by your own father, but to be chosen is worse. Panos preferred to be orphaned. Which was a strong motivator to marry and have a life with Kristie".
There were simply many things I enjoyed about about Douglas Brunt's novel.... so much so that I want to read another book by him.....
The writing came alive. I could visualize crowds hollering, screaming in the stands at Wimbleton. I could imagine watching at home on TV and noticing when control of a match passes from one player to the other: It was all very visual to me.
I enjoyed little side stories --- Anton's sexual development-his fear of American girls from having been hurt. ...His new found enjoyment of Eastern European women.....
I was cracking up after a 'morning' of great sex with a Russian woman - between eating an energy bar- she says to Anton, "Now ve svim, Anton"! And.... I enjoyed Anton's relationship with Ana --( his girlfriend and actress). I liked his 2nd therapist:
Peter Minkoff......
AND ....... ......... ....... A READERS FAVORITE: Our Tennis star was a READER!!!!
Anton enjoyed Charles Dickens, Philip Roth, Toni Morrison, Don Delia, Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, etc etc.
One of Anton's favorite quote ---is repeated twice in the story.....
from the book David Copperfield. The opening line is one that Anton thought about for many years growing up:
"Whether I shall turn out to be a hero of my own life or whether that station will be held by anybody else".
Douglas Brunt wrote an immensely interesting story! Worked for me!!!!!
Oh.... I also love the book cover --- I'd love a physical copy!!!! Anyone want to send me one? :)
Thank You St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Douglas Brunt ( I will read you again)
It helps to like TENNIS if you choose to read this book ---which I do!!!!!
To say there is not descriptions about 'tennis' itself - intensive training- matches -and tournaments -etc. would be misleading.
A tennis tour is brutal. December is the only month off. Eleven straight months of pounding, hours a day, every day, tournament after tournament is the lifestyle of the elite tennis pros. Toss in a few flights to Australia and around Europe--living in hotel rooms-add a psychiatrist-physical trainer- an academic tutor if under age - no friends- no parties -no drinking or girls who might distract --and a father who's entire being is dominated by the 'one-on-one' correlation between his happiness and his sons winning so that 'he' - Dad -could be very happy. Yep: ALL AROUND BRUTAL!!!!
I inhaled this novel in one big yummy gulp! I enjoyed reading about Anton Stratis's life. I'm not a masochist. I don't get gratification by another persons suffering, unhappiness, physical pain, humiliation, or imposed abuse by others -- father's/coaches pushing -not allowing a drink of water until they say so ....etc. However, this story was genuinely intellectually rigorous, emotionally engrossing, and I just never once wanted to put it down. Anton never came off as a victim. As he grew from a little boy - from even around age 9 and up - we see him begin to search out his own voice - his own identity - but that's different than being a whiny.
We learn early from Anton ---that for him winning never felt as good as losing a match felt as bad. His reason was when he was winning a game, those wins were for someone else. When he lost a game, those losses were all on him.
Anton was a pro tennis player. We take the journey with him as he tells us about his life story with tennis.....eating, living, breathing, every moment of his life - his driven purpose was to be the top #1 Pro tennis player......However, his willingness to suffer --- was 'planned' for him before he was even born. Both his parents were in the Olympics. His dad for swimming- his mother for skiing......Anton 'was' gifted at tennis - but without his dad directing every move he made, his choices may have been different.
Not yet 18 years of age, people all around him were talking life altering-drugs. In order to go Pro - which is what was about to happen -his dad & coach decided he needed to take steroids. An advantage in in tennis game ( if not caught). The trade off was putting crap into his body.
A favorite minor supporting character in this story is Anton's older brother, Panos.
Anton marveled at his older brother. He loved everything about him. He was fun and easy going - and he made life look naturally enjoyable. Panos love his younger brother Anton -- really loved 'him'.... and not just because of his tennis playing.
A sad moment in this story for me ---which should have been a happy one --( and it still was in some ways), was when Panos was getting married to this great girl he had been living with for six years. By this time, Anton, was a big name -- but Anton had put some distance between he and his father -- so at the wedding -Dad was 'most' happy to see Anton. Dad wanted to make sure that Panos and his bride Kristie didn't hog the limelight from Anton at their 'own' wedding.
"Panos took it in the same relief and sadness as he always did. It hurts not to be chosen by your own father, but to be chosen is worse. Panos preferred to be orphaned. Which was a strong motivator to marry and have a life with Kristie".
There were simply many things I enjoyed about about Douglas Brunt's novel.... so much so that I want to read another book by him.....
The writing came alive. I could visualize crowds hollering, screaming in the stands at Wimbleton. I could imagine watching at home on TV and noticing when control of a match passes from one player to the other: It was all very visual to me.
I enjoyed little side stories --- Anton's sexual development-his fear of American girls from having been hurt. ...His new found enjoyment of Eastern European women.....
I was cracking up after a 'morning' of great sex with a Russian woman - between eating an energy bar- she says to Anton, "Now ve svim, Anton"! And.... I enjoyed Anton's relationship with Ana --( his girlfriend and actress). I liked his 2nd therapist:
Peter Minkoff......
AND ....... ......... ....... A READERS FAVORITE: Our Tennis star was a READER!!!!
Anton enjoyed Charles Dickens, Philip Roth, Toni Morrison, Don Delia, Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, etc etc.
One of Anton's favorite quote ---is repeated twice in the story.....
from the book David Copperfield. The opening line is one that Anton thought about for many years growing up:
"Whether I shall turn out to be a hero of my own life or whether that station will be held by anybody else".
Douglas Brunt wrote an immensely interesting story! Worked for me!!!!!
Oh.... I also love the book cover --- I'd love a physical copy!!!! Anyone want to send me one? :)
Thank You St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Douglas Brunt ( I will read you again)
July 28, 2019
How to weigh the ambitions of your parents with forging your own life, your own path, and your own ambitions? In the world of elite sports it’s not easy. The cost of making an elite athlete is high: private coaches, lessons, travel, tournaments, personal trainers, etc. Not to mention the personal cost of such a laser focus when you are determined to be the #1 tennis player in the world.
The pressure can be debilitating. I think the author did a good job highlighting the highs and lows of such a life and the toll it takes on one’s body and personal life and relationships, not to mention the ethical dilemmas presented to maintain the top spot once it’s achieved.
However, I just didn’t love this book. There was a lot of telling but not much showing and something was missing for me. I never felt much sympathy for Anton. In fact, he was a pretty unlikable guy and that is not a deal-breaker for me. I would have liked to have heard more from the mother. And, finally, I have issues with naming real athletes in a work of fiction as guilty of doping.
In short, I expected something more along the quality of writing of Megan Abbott’s book. You Will Know Me, which was excellent and more nuanced. Despite the fact I don't enjoy sports-themed plots I did love Abbott's book because of the quality of the writing.
2 stars = fair
The audiobook was a quick listen with a narrator who did a good job
The pressure can be debilitating. I think the author did a good job highlighting the highs and lows of such a life and the toll it takes on one’s body and personal life and relationships, not to mention the ethical dilemmas presented to maintain the top spot once it’s achieved.
However, I just didn’t love this book. There was a lot of telling but not much showing and something was missing for me. I never felt much sympathy for Anton. In fact, he was a pretty unlikable guy and that is not a deal-breaker for me. I would have liked to have heard more from the mother. And, finally, I have issues with naming real athletes in a work of fiction as guilty of doping.
In short, I expected something more along the quality of writing of Megan Abbott’s book. You Will Know Me, which was excellent and more nuanced. Despite the fact I don't enjoy sports-themed plots I did love Abbott's book because of the quality of the writing.
2 stars = fair
The audiobook was a quick listen with a narrator who did a good job
August 8, 2018
Wow, Trophy Son was good! This book was a well-written story that felt so authentic, I would've believed it if it was non-fiction too.
"An elite athlete must have a willingness to suffer."
Anton Stratis is a tennis prodigy who must endure many pressures - competitive ones like opponents and rigorous schedules that many top athletes must face, as well as loneliness, internal pressures and battles, and most notably, his demanding and overbearing father.
The book chronicles Anton's journey from a rising teenage tennis player to an elite athlete in his 20s, trying to be independent and the best, while facing many challenges - personally and professionally.
I'm a big sports fan and although tennis isn't one of my favorites, Trophy Son was easy to get into. I really enjoyed this story.
"An elite athlete must have a willingness to suffer."
Anton Stratis is a tennis prodigy who must endure many pressures - competitive ones like opponents and rigorous schedules that many top athletes must face, as well as loneliness, internal pressures and battles, and most notably, his demanding and overbearing father.
The book chronicles Anton's journey from a rising teenage tennis player to an elite athlete in his 20s, trying to be independent and the best, while facing many challenges - personally and professionally.
I'm a big sports fan and although tennis isn't one of my favorites, Trophy Son was easy to get into. I really enjoyed this story.
June 19, 2017
In this well written novel, Douglas Brunt captures the pressures faced by Anton Stratis, whose life is almost a mirror image of that of Andre Agassi. Both came from Greek heritage and had fathers who failed in their own attempts at competition in other sports, seeking glory through their sons who they drive relentlessly from a very young age to be the best in the world. As with Agassi, who in his own autobiography written in collaboration with the excellent J. R. Moehringer, Anton hates tennis but finds himself trapped in the life since he has a natural affinity for the sport that his father both engenders and exploits. Anton's journey to self awareness, difficult in that he has not had the chance to develop social skills, makes for entertaining reading. As the end of his career comes closer, he sees himself with possibly 50 years to fill, hopefully outside of tennis. He muses, "...What did a specialized tool do when its job was done? Did they melt it down or hang it on a picture hook for others to admire."
At the competitive level, tennis is a sport reliant on both team spirit and individual combat. Having played it intensely for a number of years in my earlier life, I can attest to this dichotomy, remembering how vital it is to maintain focus, not allowing outside influences to affect performance. This book does well at getting inside the head of a world class athlete, the pluses and minuses of such a life, and the dangers of peaking early.
At the competitive level, tennis is a sport reliant on both team spirit and individual combat. Having played it intensely for a number of years in my earlier life, I can attest to this dichotomy, remembering how vital it is to maintain focus, not allowing outside influences to affect performance. This book does well at getting inside the head of a world class athlete, the pluses and minuses of such a life, and the dangers of peaking early.
June 18, 2017
As I was reading I had the distinct impression Trophy Son was autobiographical rather than a work of fiction it felt so authentic. Not being a tennis fan I could easily have been convinced Anton Stratis the protagonist was a former world number one reflecting on his life growing up and being coached by his obsessive father, of the isolation and loneliness of being a teen up and coming player on the tennis circuit, of the physical and mental challenges he faced along the way, and the health risks he was willing to take to achieve his goals. If you're a tennis fan I'm sure you'd enjoy this book but you definitely should not be put off if you're not. I'm not a fan and I thought this book was terrific. Sure the tennis was there on every page just as it was in every moment of Anton's life but the book was equally about the relationships in his life. The lengths he had to go to to wrest some control over his own life, to make his own decisions and to overcome his inherent unhappiness. This was summed up as he came to the realisation that "A person is happy in his life only if he finds meaning in it, and meaning in life is positively correlated with choice in life"
Sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the invitation to read Douglas Brunt's Trophy Son, a book I was totally engrossed in from start to finish and which won my heart in straight sets. Can't wait to see what this author comes up with next but in the meantime I'm going in search of his previous titles.
Sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the invitation to read Douglas Brunt's Trophy Son, a book I was totally engrossed in from start to finish and which won my heart in straight sets. Can't wait to see what this author comes up with next but in the meantime I'm going in search of his previous titles.
May 30, 2017
From the author of The Means and Ghosts of Manhattan Douglas Brunt turns to the world of sports with this latest: TROPHY SON – a compelling yet haunting glimpse into the lives of professional athletes; the burdens and sacrifices they bear.
Written with an insider knowledge of the tennis circuit, TROPHY SON explores a young man striving to find balance in his life, navigating moral compromises, performance-enhancing drugs, and the elusive lure of wealth and celebrity.
From Wimbledon and the U.S. Open to the off-court life of elite players, Anton finds exhilarating highs and desolate lows as he searches for an identity apart from his achievements.
Anton Stratis, a tennis prodigy whose childhood is stripped away by an ambitious obsessive father who nurtures talent and resentment in his son.
“A tennis racket lurks in my earliest memories like a sick relative who had come to live with us . . . I had no sensation of milestones and the power to value a moment was never granted to me. My parents had the plan for my life from the moment my mother tested positive with me. . ."
The hard turn: When Anton was pushed to leave school after the eighth grade to play tennis full time and study some with a traveling tutor.
“I know I was born and I know that I’ll die. The in between is mine. “ – Eddie Vedder
Tennis prodigy Anton Stratis is the son of Pennslyvania parents- two former Olympic athletes. His dad obsessed beyond control is determined to make his son a star.
Anton’s parents met in the early eighties. She was an Olympic downhill skier. He an Olympic swimmer. His mom, a natural athlete. Not as intense as his dad.
In the average day he would spend seven hours on the court with this dad blasting tennis balls from a machine, then strategy, watch game film and train with weights. Then in the winter, they would rent a place in Florida with tennis courts to do the same year-round.
His dad, was a retired hedge fund manager and now his number one focus was his son’s game. By the time Anton was fourteen he was good enough to beat the crap out of decent college player— and his dad scouted out the places.
His dad taught him how to approach the court, taunt the players, bait them and then bait them into putting money on the line.
“A friendly game will ruin you. Play with adversity, with animosity. No friendly games.”
With all the drilling, this meant no friends. No normal childhood.
Tennis was about only hate and suffering.
Anton grew to despise the game.
His dad saw in him what he did not see in his (three years older) brother Panos. He thought Anton could handle the hate. He took the punishment and by twelve he had used it to become an elite junior player. By the age of fourteen, he was on the Penn campus to humiliate a Divison I college player.
Panos drove a Porsche 911 that cost their dad less than his tennis travel each year, so that was supposed to the balance. He liked his brother. They watched out for one another the best they could.
His dad never let anyone come to like him. He was trapped. His dad was ruthless. Obsessive. He even withheld water during the heat of the summer. Torture. There were no water breaks.
There was the beat me, love me. Over and over.
His dad would not tolerate slacking off, complaints, and no talking back. No kid stuff. He would not allow the expression of rage from Anton. His dad was his trainer and coach.
Through the torment, and grueling practice he developed a toughness, a knowledge that no opponent across the net could fathom his training, but it was all built on hate.
The only light he had was reading. If he could not go anywhere physically, he could take the journey with a book. From Hemingway, Faulkner, John Irving, Nelson DeMille, Dickens. Anton loved Dickens. Unfairness, unhappiness, suffering, heroes and villains—glimmers of hope at love and a way out. David Copperfield – the idea of being the hero of your own life.
The mandate was to succeed, win tournaments, be the best. But being the number one tennis player did not make Anton the hero of his own life. It made him the hero of someone else’s life.
“Being the hero of my own life is about something else, something internal. It’s about who has their hands on the steering wheel that’s inside me. It needed to be me and it never was then, and I didn’t understand that until much later.”
His game was not like Agassi, Rafter, McEnroe, Federer; however, he liked them. His game was more like Marat Safin. His dad said he was unique.
There would be no distractions from girls, friends, or outside influences. He did what he was supposed to do.
His whole world was small. The only thing of value was winning at tennis and losing was Armageddon. Losing was trauma. His dad was more invested in tennis that Anton. A loss to an inferior player would not be tolerated.
“Some parents feel their position of unconditional love permits unfettered abuse. They can rationalize self-forgiveness for harsh treatment because parenting is an obligation and only the parent can do certain things. . . “
From triumphs, failures, to the highs and lows. The dramatic rise through the intensely competitive world of professional tennis. From abuse and performance-enhancing drugs pushed by a domineering obsessive father pushing a son to exceed at the expense of his own happiness.
The author pulls the reader into a world filled with conflicts and struggles of a young boy, through his teenage years to adulthood, the pro-circuit and Wimbledon. A strife for happiness, self-fulfillment, and pressure to succeed.
Some may find some similarities with Stratis’s father resembling Andre Agassi’s, an overbearing former Olympic athlete and immigrant.
As in Open (highly recommend) his autobiography— Agassi reveals off the court he was often unhappy and confused, unfulfilled by his great achievements in a sport he had come to resent.
From the author:
An engrossing tale for anyone who loves the game of tennis, and a cautionary tale for parents who utilize pressures and tactics to push a child in our overly social and achievement-obsessed society of perfectionism. Well done!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early reading copy. Cover Love. Also purchased the audiobook narrated by Dan Bittner for an engaging performance.
JDCMustReadBooks
Written with an insider knowledge of the tennis circuit, TROPHY SON explores a young man striving to find balance in his life, navigating moral compromises, performance-enhancing drugs, and the elusive lure of wealth and celebrity.
From Wimbledon and the U.S. Open to the off-court life of elite players, Anton finds exhilarating highs and desolate lows as he searches for an identity apart from his achievements.
Anton Stratis, a tennis prodigy whose childhood is stripped away by an ambitious obsessive father who nurtures talent and resentment in his son.
“A tennis racket lurks in my earliest memories like a sick relative who had come to live with us . . . I had no sensation of milestones and the power to value a moment was never granted to me. My parents had the plan for my life from the moment my mother tested positive with me. . ."
The hard turn: When Anton was pushed to leave school after the eighth grade to play tennis full time and study some with a traveling tutor.
“I know I was born and I know that I’ll die. The in between is mine. “ – Eddie Vedder
Tennis prodigy Anton Stratis is the son of Pennslyvania parents- two former Olympic athletes. His dad obsessed beyond control is determined to make his son a star.
Anton’s parents met in the early eighties. She was an Olympic downhill skier. He an Olympic swimmer. His mom, a natural athlete. Not as intense as his dad.
In the average day he would spend seven hours on the court with this dad blasting tennis balls from a machine, then strategy, watch game film and train with weights. Then in the winter, they would rent a place in Florida with tennis courts to do the same year-round.
His dad, was a retired hedge fund manager and now his number one focus was his son’s game. By the time Anton was fourteen he was good enough to beat the crap out of decent college player— and his dad scouted out the places.
His dad taught him how to approach the court, taunt the players, bait them and then bait them into putting money on the line.
“A friendly game will ruin you. Play with adversity, with animosity. No friendly games.”
With all the drilling, this meant no friends. No normal childhood.
Tennis was about only hate and suffering.
Anton grew to despise the game.
His dad saw in him what he did not see in his (three years older) brother Panos. He thought Anton could handle the hate. He took the punishment and by twelve he had used it to become an elite junior player. By the age of fourteen, he was on the Penn campus to humiliate a Divison I college player.
Panos drove a Porsche 911 that cost their dad less than his tennis travel each year, so that was supposed to the balance. He liked his brother. They watched out for one another the best they could.
His dad never let anyone come to like him. He was trapped. His dad was ruthless. Obsessive. He even withheld water during the heat of the summer. Torture. There were no water breaks.
There was the beat me, love me. Over and over.
His dad would not tolerate slacking off, complaints, and no talking back. No kid stuff. He would not allow the expression of rage from Anton. His dad was his trainer and coach.
Through the torment, and grueling practice he developed a toughness, a knowledge that no opponent across the net could fathom his training, but it was all built on hate.
The only light he had was reading. If he could not go anywhere physically, he could take the journey with a book. From Hemingway, Faulkner, John Irving, Nelson DeMille, Dickens. Anton loved Dickens. Unfairness, unhappiness, suffering, heroes and villains—glimmers of hope at love and a way out. David Copperfield – the idea of being the hero of your own life.
The mandate was to succeed, win tournaments, be the best. But being the number one tennis player did not make Anton the hero of his own life. It made him the hero of someone else’s life.
“Being the hero of my own life is about something else, something internal. It’s about who has their hands on the steering wheel that’s inside me. It needed to be me and it never was then, and I didn’t understand that until much later.”
His game was not like Agassi, Rafter, McEnroe, Federer; however, he liked them. His game was more like Marat Safin. His dad said he was unique.
There would be no distractions from girls, friends, or outside influences. He did what he was supposed to do.
His whole world was small. The only thing of value was winning at tennis and losing was Armageddon. Losing was trauma. His dad was more invested in tennis that Anton. A loss to an inferior player would not be tolerated.
“Some parents feel their position of unconditional love permits unfettered abuse. They can rationalize self-forgiveness for harsh treatment because parenting is an obligation and only the parent can do certain things. . . “
From triumphs, failures, to the highs and lows. The dramatic rise through the intensely competitive world of professional tennis. From abuse and performance-enhancing drugs pushed by a domineering obsessive father pushing a son to exceed at the expense of his own happiness.
The author pulls the reader into a world filled with conflicts and struggles of a young boy, through his teenage years to adulthood, the pro-circuit and Wimbledon. A strife for happiness, self-fulfillment, and pressure to succeed.
Some may find some similarities with Stratis’s father resembling Andre Agassi’s, an overbearing former Olympic athlete and immigrant.
As in Open (highly recommend) his autobiography— Agassi reveals off the court he was often unhappy and confused, unfulfilled by his great achievements in a sport he had come to resent.
From the author:
“Trophy Son” was inspired by how childhood sports have changed since his youth to become highly specialized and competitive, as the pressures on athletes trickle down from colleges to high school to youth sports, adding incentives for them to try performance-enhancing drugs.
An engrossing tale for anyone who loves the game of tennis, and a cautionary tale for parents who utilize pressures and tactics to push a child in our overly social and achievement-obsessed society of perfectionism. Well done!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early reading copy. Cover Love. Also purchased the audiobook narrated by Dan Bittner for an engaging performance.
JDCMustReadBooks
June 16, 2017
An intriguing story a young man whose entire life has revolved around a domineering father and the sport of tennis.
SUMMARY
Anton never got to choose tennis, it was his father's plan for him from the moment he was born.
His dad had been an Olympic athlete, and wanted fame and glory for his son. Anton left school after eight grade to play tennis full time. He'd spend seven hours a day on their backyard court in Radnor, Pennsylvania, with dad slamming tennis balls at him. That would be followed by hours of tennis strategy, weight training and watching match films. In the winter, the family would rent a house in Florida so Anton could continue the same daily routine. By the time he was fourteen Anton could easily beat college players. Occasionally, his dad would take him to nearby college courts to hustle matches with college team players for money.
Anton aspires for greatness but detests the fact that the choice was not his to make. In his mind "tennis in only about hate and suffering" He grows up in isolation, without friends or any semblance of a normal life. When Anton was in his mid-teens, his dad hired an entourage: a coach, a trainer, and a stringer, who travel with Anton from match to match. Anton struggles to find the balance he needs to be happy. His road to greatness becomes even tougher once Anton becomes a top rated world player. Anton must make compromises to continue his rise. At eighteen, as his body starts breaking down he begins taking performance enhancing drugs. It's a decision that will cost him and ultimately force him to make his own decisions about his future.
REVIEW
An avid tennis player I really wanted to love this book. I have known and personally seen overbearing tennis parents and the impact on the child. No fun for anyone close to the issue. This story seems strikingly similar to a autobiography I had read about Andre Agassi several years ago.
Overall the writing was great and the book was a quick read. The descriptions of tennis matches and tournaments were good and I loved reading about the behind the scenes at the tournaments. The story itself left me wanting something more. Anton's general unhappiness with his situation, but unwillingness to change it, got old really quick.
My biggest issue with TROPHY SON was with the doping issue and the pretense that "everyone on the tour is doing it". Bobby Hicks, Anton's trainer mentions the names of several real tennis players currently ranked in the top ten, as examples of player who actually use performance enhancing drugs. None of the players mentioned in the book have ever tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and in fact openly speak out against the issue. While the book is a work of fiction, the use of real names in this one part of the book angered me. In this day and age it is already hard to tell fact from fiction without someone purposefully muddying the water. The book really would have been just as powerful and more enjoyable had fictional names been used. To use real names in this manner crossed a line for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SUMMARY
Anton never got to choose tennis, it was his father's plan for him from the moment he was born.
His dad had been an Olympic athlete, and wanted fame and glory for his son. Anton left school after eight grade to play tennis full time. He'd spend seven hours a day on their backyard court in Radnor, Pennsylvania, with dad slamming tennis balls at him. That would be followed by hours of tennis strategy, weight training and watching match films. In the winter, the family would rent a house in Florida so Anton could continue the same daily routine. By the time he was fourteen Anton could easily beat college players. Occasionally, his dad would take him to nearby college courts to hustle matches with college team players for money.
Anton aspires for greatness but detests the fact that the choice was not his to make. In his mind "tennis in only about hate and suffering" He grows up in isolation, without friends or any semblance of a normal life. When Anton was in his mid-teens, his dad hired an entourage: a coach, a trainer, and a stringer, who travel with Anton from match to match. Anton struggles to find the balance he needs to be happy. His road to greatness becomes even tougher once Anton becomes a top rated world player. Anton must make compromises to continue his rise. At eighteen, as his body starts breaking down he begins taking performance enhancing drugs. It's a decision that will cost him and ultimately force him to make his own decisions about his future.
REVIEW
An avid tennis player I really wanted to love this book. I have known and personally seen overbearing tennis parents and the impact on the child. No fun for anyone close to the issue. This story seems strikingly similar to a autobiography I had read about Andre Agassi several years ago.
Overall the writing was great and the book was a quick read. The descriptions of tennis matches and tournaments were good and I loved reading about the behind the scenes at the tournaments. The story itself left me wanting something more. Anton's general unhappiness with his situation, but unwillingness to change it, got old really quick.
My biggest issue with TROPHY SON was with the doping issue and the pretense that "everyone on the tour is doing it". Bobby Hicks, Anton's trainer mentions the names of several real tennis players currently ranked in the top ten, as examples of player who actually use performance enhancing drugs. None of the players mentioned in the book have ever tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and in fact openly speak out against the issue. While the book is a work of fiction, the use of real names in this one part of the book angered me. In this day and age it is already hard to tell fact from fiction without someone purposefully muddying the water. The book really would have been just as powerful and more enjoyable had fictional names been used. To use real names in this manner crossed a line for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2017
This book came along to me at the perfect time. I am recovering from a surgery and wanted to read something different than I usually do (historical fiction). The author tells a story of a child tennis prodigy whose driven, narcissistic father pushes his son so hard that the boy knows nothing of life outside of brutal trainings and playing tournaments. He is taken out of school so he can concentrate on nothing but tennis. All through his childhood and teen years he has neither friends nor social skills. “A tennis racket lurks in my earliest memories like a sick relative who had come to live with us.” The reader will hurt for this isolated boy who grows up to become the #1 ranked tennis player in the world.
This is a work of fiction, but back in 2009 I read “Open, an Autobiography” by tennis great Andre Agassi. The similarities are strong. Both have abusive fathers (think Pat Conroy’s novel “The Great Santini” if the father in Conroy’s book was on steroids) whom they couldn’t escape from until they became men. Both have an elder brother (in real life Agassi has three) who couldn’t take the pressure or make the grade, leaving the child most gifted in the family forced to live in their backyard tennis prison, while their elder brother(s) have a normal life, playing tennis only for fun. And, as an adult, both have a Hollywood celebrity girlfriend. This fictional work reads as an autobiographic coming of age story.
I actually know little about tennis. It is one of the sports that I do not follow. However, you do not need to know about the game to enjoy this story. My favorite part in the book is when our teenage tennis player slowly begins to attempt to get out from under his overbearing father’s thumb. He begins to wonder if his success is in exchange for his happiness. When steroids are pushed on him he struggles with the questions, is he ruining his health and endangering his career? Unfortunately, sometimes the dialogue is wooden or so obvious I rolled my eyes. “I told him how winning never feels as good as losing feels bad.” Still, this is a good book that allows the reader to get inside the mind of a professional athlete, especially an athlete who begins his career as a child and is marketed as a prodigy.
I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my reviews at https://books6259.wordpress.com/
This is a work of fiction, but back in 2009 I read “Open, an Autobiography” by tennis great Andre Agassi. The similarities are strong. Both have abusive fathers (think Pat Conroy’s novel “The Great Santini” if the father in Conroy’s book was on steroids) whom they couldn’t escape from until they became men. Both have an elder brother (in real life Agassi has three) who couldn’t take the pressure or make the grade, leaving the child most gifted in the family forced to live in their backyard tennis prison, while their elder brother(s) have a normal life, playing tennis only for fun. And, as an adult, both have a Hollywood celebrity girlfriend. This fictional work reads as an autobiographic coming of age story.
I actually know little about tennis. It is one of the sports that I do not follow. However, you do not need to know about the game to enjoy this story. My favorite part in the book is when our teenage tennis player slowly begins to attempt to get out from under his overbearing father’s thumb. He begins to wonder if his success is in exchange for his happiness. When steroids are pushed on him he struggles with the questions, is he ruining his health and endangering his career? Unfortunately, sometimes the dialogue is wooden or so obvious I rolled my eyes. “I told him how winning never feels as good as losing feels bad.” Still, this is a good book that allows the reader to get inside the mind of a professional athlete, especially an athlete who begins his career as a child and is marketed as a prodigy.
I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my reviews at https://books6259.wordpress.com/
October 9, 2017
Super - lots of descriptions of a 16-year-old girl who loves to perform oral sex acts on our young hero. Male fantasy time. Personally I prefer books that treat young girls as human beings rather than underclad sex toys. Call me old-fashioned. Or decent. Whichever you prefer.
Abandoned at 19%.
Abandoned at 19%.
April 20, 2017
I found Trophy Son to be a quick and pleasant read. It is a novel about living a life filled with expectations, both self-imposed and those that are thrust upon us by others. The story takes place in the world of competitive tennis and is predominantly a tale about a young man and his attempts at finding himself while being pushed mentally, physically, and ethically to his limits. It is a story that I think anyone can relate to in some way and it was certainly an eye-opener for me into the world of tennis. Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for the advance review copy.
June 7, 2017
Anton Stratis grew up in the beautiful suburbs of Philadelphia. But his childhood was anything but beautiful. A gifted tennis player, his light began to shine at six years old. When his brother Panos did not fill the shoes their controlling father desired, the attention turned to Anton and the spotlight never left him, not for one moment. Anton stopped attending school after 8th grade and trained night and day, as his father calculated his rise in the tennis world. It is not until much later in his life that he struggles to take back control and live according to his own rules and desires. Anton’s narration of this incredible story takes the reader from tennis courts around the world to the depths of his very soul. He has mastered the psychology and strength it takes to be a professional athlete but does not know what it means to have a true friend, or the meaning of unconditional love. He yearns for normalcy and feels the world is passing him by. Everyone else looks so darn happy. People think it would be so grand to be a celebrity but happiness is priceless and finding it is life’s true gift. Remember parents, whether its an athletic event or the SAT’s, when things with your kids get out of hand you have to say to yourself - “Will this really matter 5 years from now?” Hope this starts some conversations, I know it will be perfect for book club! Highly recommend this unputdownable read. #SummerReads #beachreads #FathersDayGift
July 16, 2017
A well written story about elite athletes. Through the eyes of a rising tennis star and his father.
June 6, 2017
Loved this book it's the perfect summer read! It's sexy, it's sad,and it's triumphant. If you have ever wondered what life must be like for prodigies., this novel will give you a glimpse into the daily grind of practice and self sacrifice. Win at all cost is a running theme throughout the book. Loved every minute of it.
March 2, 2017
Dad (Mr. Stratis) loved to run. He was a sprinter & met his future wife (Mrs. Stratis) to be. She was a 1984 Olympic downhill skier.
Anton Stratis (son) soon came along.
Coach, mentor, & later a fan Anton’s dad had his eyes set on his son’s future as a tennis pro & 1 day winning the Wimbledon or the US Open.
Anton’s day/day life growing up.
The ups/downs, struggles, & success/failures.
Will he 1 day meet dad’s expectations?
I can relate to this book, as a coach, & former athlete.
My daughter/husband; 2 granddaughters, & son/wife are still actively involved in all kinds of sports.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a fabulous very well written fictional sports book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great sports movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; St. Martin’s Press; AUCP; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Anton Stratis (son) soon came along.
Coach, mentor, & later a fan Anton’s dad had his eyes set on his son’s future as a tennis pro & 1 day winning the Wimbledon or the US Open.
Anton’s day/day life growing up.
The ups/downs, struggles, & success/failures.
Will he 1 day meet dad’s expectations?
I can relate to this book, as a coach, & former athlete.
My daughter/husband; 2 granddaughters, & son/wife are still actively involved in all kinds of sports.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a fabulous very well written fictional sports book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great sports movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; St. Martin’s Press; AUCP; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 3, 2017
When Sarah (of Sarah's Book Shelves) tells me to read a book, I do; I'm so thankful to her for this recommendation because I'm not sure whether I would have discovered it on my own. A fictional, yet very realistic, account of a young man who is thrust into the world of professional tennis through the expectations of his father; an eye-opening perspective, even for those who are not fans of the sport. Highly recommend!
January 28, 2022
Actual rating 3.5!
August 29, 2024
A different angle on a sports story about family drama, athletic excellence, and sacrifices to reach the top of any sport. I also liked the Philly and Main Line references
September 3, 2024
Nothing like a good tennis story, especially based in the Philly area! You could really feel the development of Anton’s feelings towards the game throughout his career, both good and bad.
June 14, 2017
This is a quick read about a young boy who becomes a tennis pro.
He finds normal relationships hard to forge because mostly he is focused on this tennis....
The story tells us whats it like to grow up a child prodigy.
A solid read....
Thank you netgalley the Author and publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review.
He finds normal relationships hard to forge because mostly he is focused on this tennis....
The story tells us whats it like to grow up a child prodigy.
A solid read....
Thank you netgalley the Author and publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review.
May 27, 2017
Disclaimer: I’d like to disclose that I received a free copy in order to write this review.
Overall thoughts
I’d like to start off by saying that I’m incredibly surprised by how much I enjoyed Trophy Son. While I don’t know much about the sport myself, besides playing a couple of times when I was younger, I have little understanding of how the pro circuit works. Thankfully, the author has written this novel in a marvelous way that allows readers (even those with no knowledge like myself) to understand the world of professional tennis, and to connect with some of the struggles that an athlete in that situation might be dealing with. There are two major aspects of the novel that I disliked. Firstly, I don’t like the somewhat forced, obsessive, and somewhat clichéd way in which the protagonist ends up in a relationship with a woman. Secondly, related to my previous complaint, parts of the ending are a bit predictable and clichéd. As a whole, however, I’d be inclined to rate the book highly with 4 out of 5 stars. After all, I really did enjoy reading it. For those interested in getting a more detailed analysis on how I arrived at my conclusion, please read below, though beware that there might be some minor spoilers here and there.
Plot, themes, and characters
As the short blurb of the book implies, the novel follows the story of young Anton and his experience in becoming a professional tennis player. We as readers get to follow our protagonist since he was a very young kid, being formed and trained by his parents (which have both participated in the Olympics) into becoming a great tennis player. Through his earlier years, his training and coaching were solely performed by his father. Even though his father had competed in the Olympics for swimming rather than tennis, he still tried to instill into Anton the mentality, habits, and determination that someone needs to have in order to become a successful athlete. During Anton’s teenage years, it is decided to hire a coach with more experience in tennis so he can help Anton succeed in his parents’ dreams and desires for him. Thanks to this coaching, we see Anton transition from a young tennis prodigy to eventually being ranked as the number one tennis player in the world.
As one can imagine, due to the constant presence of his father during his formative years as a player, family dynamics become an important aspect of the book. His father not only coached him as a kid but later became part of his team, even when Anton started competing internationally. Due to their wealth amassed and his retirement, his father could afford the luxury of traveling the world while Anton entered tournaments all across the world. Due to the behavior and training method that his father decided to follow, Anton grew up with a quite strict schedule and limited approved activities. In fact, it is mentioned that he even stopped attending regular school so that he could spend more hours of the day training with his father. As with all other teenagers, as Anton grew, he came to have a rebellious phase (though perhaps not in the same way as normal adolescents) and started doing things without his father. This eventually led to him kicking his dad out of his team. His father is not the only member of his family, however. His mother also played a role, albeit an arguably smaller one, at least explicitly. His mother believes that his father is the one that knows best when it comes to his training, and decides to take a more hands-off approach. For this reason, as Anton grows, he gets more distanced from her. Despite her distance from Anton, his mother does sometimes intervene, as is the case when Anton starts dating. His father is against it, but his mother encourages him to continue with it. The last family member is his brother, Panos. While his parents also attempted to influence him into becoming an athlete, he gave up early and refused to fulfill their dreams.
This refusal on Panos’ behalf caused their father to focus solely on Anton. In fact, while his dad was still training Anton in their backyard tennis court, his father grew hedges around the court to make sure that Anton couldn’t see anything beyond it so he could remain focused. This leads to another important part of the novel, which is the mental isolation and other psychological themes that are mentioned throughout the story. The level of isolation that tennis requires is brought up several times. At some point, Anton brings up the idea that once a tennis player is out in the court, he stops being just a player. Once he’s out on the court, he also needs to play the role of trainer, confidant, and coach. Tennis players don’t have the same access to strategists or other team members like in other sports. They’re on their own. To enforce this mentality, Anton’s father nearly caused him to be socially reclusive. His only way to escape and to entertain himself seems to be through reading. Despite of this, he still feels a lack of mental stimulus outside of tennis, which causes him to develop somewhat of OCD tendencies which make him count things all the time, though Anton himself admits that this is mostly out of boredom. However, the lack of socializing certainly plays a role in Anton, which is even more evident towards the end of the book. During the second half of the book, when Anton starts thinking about retirement and his life after tennis, he also starts realizing that he’s missed out on a lot of social developments. He starts noticing this as he starts being friendly with the players in the circuit and with other celebrities. When he starts dating, he notices that he is just now learning how to behave as a person outside of tennis. Anton expresses that he is learning at 22 what he should have learned when he was younger.
Of course, this latter sentiment is just but one of the many struggles exposed that professional athletes have to deal with. One of the other issues is that in a lot of cases, people seem to care more about his athletic progress and achievements, rather than his actual being. This is particularly noticeable when he’s talking to his first therapist, whom Anton blames of simply working for his father and pushing towards his father’s agenda rather than helping Anton as a person. It is shown that this kind of behavior can be quite problematic with athletes, or at least in the case of Anton since he himself doesn’t even know if he wants to commit to the sport in the first place. This amount of external pressure and expectations set on to him cause Anton to lose confidence in himself several times, overcoming them differently and for different reasons at different points in time.
The last topic that I’d like to address in this section is that of the sport itself, the level of competition, and the consequences. Throughout the novel, we get to learn more about how the world of tennis operates and how it has changed over the years. In particular, this evolution seems to have been more important due to the technological developments in the strings and rackets used. There are several notes on how the sport has evolved. Naturally, as in other sports, there are different techniques and playing styles. Through the encounters and matches that Anton is involved in, we get an understanding of the differences between these techniques and styles, and how different players adapt to different situations. Furthermore, we also get to see the structure of the competitions themselves. It is stated that tennis has a very long season, lasting 11 months of the year with only the month of December as a break. This causes players to seek ways to get faster recovery and get more endurance. Throughout the book, we learn of means and methods that players use stimulants, drugs or other banned substances to help them in these aspects. In some cases, we even learn the consequences of getting caught, and the power that some players have to negotiate in case, they get caught. Lastly, the level of competition changes as one is climbing the ranks. The higher one gets, the harder it is to climb. And once a player reaches the summit, it can be quite lonely, so to speak, with fierce competition. Anton expresses that one loss on a given day could mean a change in the top five, depending on how close they are in points. This can increase the level of pressure that the players have to face.
Use of language and narration
The novel is narrated in a first person perspective, which I believe fits the nature of the story quite well. In this case, the narrative helps readers to connect with the protagonist and to understand his dilemmas, struggles, thoughts, and emotions, among other things. The language used throughout the novel is incredibly easy to follow, even when describing the elements that are unique to the sport. The fast pace of the story helps the interest stay alive for those that are not as knowledgeable or interested in the sport. Lastly, the language also reflects the growth that the character has since it is observable how his feelings and thoughts evolved thanks to his different experiences.
Recommendations and suggestions for further reading
I’d recommend this novel to anyone that is interested in tennis. However, I’d also recommend this book to those that want to get a better understanding of the hardships of becoming a professional athlete, be it the mentality or schedule that they hold, or the tax that it has on their relationships with the outside world. I’d also recommend this book to those that are looking for a quick-paced, easy and entertaining read. Unfortunately, since I don’t usually read books related to sports, I don’t have a lot of recommendations. From the top of my head, my only recommendation would be for those that want to read another novel that focuses on the relationship between a father and his son, though in a very different context. My recommendation, in that case, would be The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I would like to thank the publisher for the chance of reviewing this book, and to those of you who read my review. Happy reading!
Overall thoughts
I’d like to start off by saying that I’m incredibly surprised by how much I enjoyed Trophy Son. While I don’t know much about the sport myself, besides playing a couple of times when I was younger, I have little understanding of how the pro circuit works. Thankfully, the author has written this novel in a marvelous way that allows readers (even those with no knowledge like myself) to understand the world of professional tennis, and to connect with some of the struggles that an athlete in that situation might be dealing with. There are two major aspects of the novel that I disliked. Firstly, I don’t like the somewhat forced, obsessive, and somewhat clichéd way in which the protagonist ends up in a relationship with a woman. Secondly, related to my previous complaint, parts of the ending are a bit predictable and clichéd. As a whole, however, I’d be inclined to rate the book highly with 4 out of 5 stars. After all, I really did enjoy reading it. For those interested in getting a more detailed analysis on how I arrived at my conclusion, please read below, though beware that there might be some minor spoilers here and there.
Plot, themes, and characters
As the short blurb of the book implies, the novel follows the story of young Anton and his experience in becoming a professional tennis player. We as readers get to follow our protagonist since he was a very young kid, being formed and trained by his parents (which have both participated in the Olympics) into becoming a great tennis player. Through his earlier years, his training and coaching were solely performed by his father. Even though his father had competed in the Olympics for swimming rather than tennis, he still tried to instill into Anton the mentality, habits, and determination that someone needs to have in order to become a successful athlete. During Anton’s teenage years, it is decided to hire a coach with more experience in tennis so he can help Anton succeed in his parents’ dreams and desires for him. Thanks to this coaching, we see Anton transition from a young tennis prodigy to eventually being ranked as the number one tennis player in the world.
As one can imagine, due to the constant presence of his father during his formative years as a player, family dynamics become an important aspect of the book. His father not only coached him as a kid but later became part of his team, even when Anton started competing internationally. Due to their wealth amassed and his retirement, his father could afford the luxury of traveling the world while Anton entered tournaments all across the world. Due to the behavior and training method that his father decided to follow, Anton grew up with a quite strict schedule and limited approved activities. In fact, it is mentioned that he even stopped attending regular school so that he could spend more hours of the day training with his father. As with all other teenagers, as Anton grew, he came to have a rebellious phase (though perhaps not in the same way as normal adolescents) and started doing things without his father. This eventually led to him kicking his dad out of his team. His father is not the only member of his family, however. His mother also played a role, albeit an arguably smaller one, at least explicitly. His mother believes that his father is the one that knows best when it comes to his training, and decides to take a more hands-off approach. For this reason, as Anton grows, he gets more distanced from her. Despite her distance from Anton, his mother does sometimes intervene, as is the case when Anton starts dating. His father is against it, but his mother encourages him to continue with it. The last family member is his brother, Panos. While his parents also attempted to influence him into becoming an athlete, he gave up early and refused to fulfill their dreams.
This refusal on Panos’ behalf caused their father to focus solely on Anton. In fact, while his dad was still training Anton in their backyard tennis court, his father grew hedges around the court to make sure that Anton couldn’t see anything beyond it so he could remain focused. This leads to another important part of the novel, which is the mental isolation and other psychological themes that are mentioned throughout the story. The level of isolation that tennis requires is brought up several times. At some point, Anton brings up the idea that once a tennis player is out in the court, he stops being just a player. Once he’s out on the court, he also needs to play the role of trainer, confidant, and coach. Tennis players don’t have the same access to strategists or other team members like in other sports. They’re on their own. To enforce this mentality, Anton’s father nearly caused him to be socially reclusive. His only way to escape and to entertain himself seems to be through reading. Despite of this, he still feels a lack of mental stimulus outside of tennis, which causes him to develop somewhat of OCD tendencies which make him count things all the time, though Anton himself admits that this is mostly out of boredom. However, the lack of socializing certainly plays a role in Anton, which is even more evident towards the end of the book. During the second half of the book, when Anton starts thinking about retirement and his life after tennis, he also starts realizing that he’s missed out on a lot of social developments. He starts noticing this as he starts being friendly with the players in the circuit and with other celebrities. When he starts dating, he notices that he is just now learning how to behave as a person outside of tennis. Anton expresses that he is learning at 22 what he should have learned when he was younger.
Of course, this latter sentiment is just but one of the many struggles exposed that professional athletes have to deal with. One of the other issues is that in a lot of cases, people seem to care more about his athletic progress and achievements, rather than his actual being. This is particularly noticeable when he’s talking to his first therapist, whom Anton blames of simply working for his father and pushing towards his father’s agenda rather than helping Anton as a person. It is shown that this kind of behavior can be quite problematic with athletes, or at least in the case of Anton since he himself doesn’t even know if he wants to commit to the sport in the first place. This amount of external pressure and expectations set on to him cause Anton to lose confidence in himself several times, overcoming them differently and for different reasons at different points in time.
The last topic that I’d like to address in this section is that of the sport itself, the level of competition, and the consequences. Throughout the novel, we get to learn more about how the world of tennis operates and how it has changed over the years. In particular, this evolution seems to have been more important due to the technological developments in the strings and rackets used. There are several notes on how the sport has evolved. Naturally, as in other sports, there are different techniques and playing styles. Through the encounters and matches that Anton is involved in, we get an understanding of the differences between these techniques and styles, and how different players adapt to different situations. Furthermore, we also get to see the structure of the competitions themselves. It is stated that tennis has a very long season, lasting 11 months of the year with only the month of December as a break. This causes players to seek ways to get faster recovery and get more endurance. Throughout the book, we learn of means and methods that players use stimulants, drugs or other banned substances to help them in these aspects. In some cases, we even learn the consequences of getting caught, and the power that some players have to negotiate in case, they get caught. Lastly, the level of competition changes as one is climbing the ranks. The higher one gets, the harder it is to climb. And once a player reaches the summit, it can be quite lonely, so to speak, with fierce competition. Anton expresses that one loss on a given day could mean a change in the top five, depending on how close they are in points. This can increase the level of pressure that the players have to face.
Use of language and narration
The novel is narrated in a first person perspective, which I believe fits the nature of the story quite well. In this case, the narrative helps readers to connect with the protagonist and to understand his dilemmas, struggles, thoughts, and emotions, among other things. The language used throughout the novel is incredibly easy to follow, even when describing the elements that are unique to the sport. The fast pace of the story helps the interest stay alive for those that are not as knowledgeable or interested in the sport. Lastly, the language also reflects the growth that the character has since it is observable how his feelings and thoughts evolved thanks to his different experiences.
Recommendations and suggestions for further reading
I’d recommend this novel to anyone that is interested in tennis. However, I’d also recommend this book to those that want to get a better understanding of the hardships of becoming a professional athlete, be it the mentality or schedule that they hold, or the tax that it has on their relationships with the outside world. I’d also recommend this book to those that are looking for a quick-paced, easy and entertaining read. Unfortunately, since I don’t usually read books related to sports, I don’t have a lot of recommendations. From the top of my head, my only recommendation would be for those that want to read another novel that focuses on the relationship between a father and his son, though in a very different context. My recommendation, in that case, would be The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I would like to thank the publisher for the chance of reviewing this book, and to those of you who read my review. Happy reading!
April 9, 2017
Trophy Son
By
Douglas Brunt
What it's all about...
This was a really addictive book about a family who just happened to have a son who was a champion tennis player. The problem with this situation was that the father in this family would do anything to get his son to the ranking of number one. He took his son out of school and forced his son to live eat and breathe tennis. Nothing was too much or too over the top. Not screaming, not drugs, not even tricks would prevent him from forcing his son into that enviable number one position.
Why I wanted to read it...
Something about this book sounded amazingly appealing. This family was so abnormal and the father was so unappealing. I could not stop reading it. I had to check repeatedly to make sure I wasn't reading a memoir. This book read like a memoir.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I actually loved knowing what being a pro tennis player entailed. This book was a source of knowledge for me about the world of professional tennis.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who enjoy books that detail " life behind the scenes" should truly enjoy this one.
By
Douglas Brunt
What it's all about...
This was a really addictive book about a family who just happened to have a son who was a champion tennis player. The problem with this situation was that the father in this family would do anything to get his son to the ranking of number one. He took his son out of school and forced his son to live eat and breathe tennis. Nothing was too much or too over the top. Not screaming, not drugs, not even tricks would prevent him from forcing his son into that enviable number one position.
Why I wanted to read it...
Something about this book sounded amazingly appealing. This family was so abnormal and the father was so unappealing. I could not stop reading it. I had to check repeatedly to make sure I wasn't reading a memoir. This book read like a memoir.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I actually loved knowing what being a pro tennis player entailed. This book was a source of knowledge for me about the world of professional tennis.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who enjoy books that detail " life behind the scenes" should truly enjoy this one.
December 14, 2016
Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC.
This is exactly what I have pictured the upbringing of a phenom to be. A zealous parent, much resentment, but then eventual success and an acceptance of the sacrifice. Maybe that is how it has to be in order to reach the top ranks in tennis or gymnastics.
Fast read.
This is exactly what I have pictured the upbringing of a phenom to be. A zealous parent, much resentment, but then eventual success and an acceptance of the sacrifice. Maybe that is how it has to be in order to reach the top ranks in tennis or gymnastics.
Fast read.
August 10, 2017
Warts and all behind-the-scenes of a tennis prodigy's life and love-hate relationship with the game
The synopsis made me think 'Lizzie's story from Wimbledon' (the film), and several times through the book I was seeing similarities, thinking of Kirsten Dunst's character and wondering if she and real-life tennis professionals have lives like Anton's.
Coached by an ex-Olympic father from a young age, Anton knows he will be a champion - he has to be. He has natural talent but is worked hard.
"Our training got more and more that way. Beat me, love me. Like Ike Turner."
It's a hard relationship to watch, and you feel little sympathy for Anton's dad - is success really worth that much?
We watch Anton's entire career, his adolescence as he tries on his skills for size against older players, his physical peak and rise up the rankings, and the inevitable descent - but just how will it end, and what say will the player be able to have?
"... what I"m saying is that my self as a player is my whole self. When I lose, there's no other part of me to fall back on... I'm trapped."
We watch painful training sessions, see Anton in therapy, negotiating with his parents, trying to have relationships, feeling jealous of a brother less talented but able to have a normal life. And we see the pro tennis matches. While I'm not a player, I really enjoyed this part, and seeing what is probably a very real account of a young man struggling to live up to expectations, find himself, decide what he wants to do and keeping it together while he does this - fascinating.
"Elite tennis players are soldiers who enlist at age eight rather than eighteen."
This is felt as you read, the brutality of the training regime, the non-stop schedule of games and travel. There is inevitable drug use, though it is controlled and not graphically shown, it's just part of Anton's regime rather than something he does because he needs to. The author actually makes sure we know that the player refuses drugs as long as he can, resents needing them, rather than glamourising illegal substances.
Loved the sneak peak look at tennis, the look at a life dominated by a father and a game, the growing into a man of Anton.
For more than just tennis fans.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample e-copy.
The synopsis made me think 'Lizzie's story from Wimbledon' (the film), and several times through the book I was seeing similarities, thinking of Kirsten Dunst's character and wondering if she and real-life tennis professionals have lives like Anton's.
Coached by an ex-Olympic father from a young age, Anton knows he will be a champion - he has to be. He has natural talent but is worked hard.
"Our training got more and more that way. Beat me, love me. Like Ike Turner."
It's a hard relationship to watch, and you feel little sympathy for Anton's dad - is success really worth that much?
We watch Anton's entire career, his adolescence as he tries on his skills for size against older players, his physical peak and rise up the rankings, and the inevitable descent - but just how will it end, and what say will the player be able to have?
"... what I"m saying is that my self as a player is my whole self. When I lose, there's no other part of me to fall back on... I'm trapped."
We watch painful training sessions, see Anton in therapy, negotiating with his parents, trying to have relationships, feeling jealous of a brother less talented but able to have a normal life. And we see the pro tennis matches. While I'm not a player, I really enjoyed this part, and seeing what is probably a very real account of a young man struggling to live up to expectations, find himself, decide what he wants to do and keeping it together while he does this - fascinating.
"Elite tennis players are soldiers who enlist at age eight rather than eighteen."
This is felt as you read, the brutality of the training regime, the non-stop schedule of games and travel. There is inevitable drug use, though it is controlled and not graphically shown, it's just part of Anton's regime rather than something he does because he needs to. The author actually makes sure we know that the player refuses drugs as long as he can, resents needing them, rather than glamourising illegal substances.
Loved the sneak peak look at tennis, the look at a life dominated by a father and a game, the growing into a man of Anton.
For more than just tennis fans.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample e-copy.
July 27, 2017
But a person is happy in his life only if he finds meaning in it, and meaning in life is positively correlated with choice in life. While I wasn't conscious of that fact then, I suffered from it unknowingly.
A well written prose in the realm of tennis and an over bearing father, a son Anton Stratis who struggles to be the hero of his own story and to find connection with others. His father saw in his son, his potential to be a #1 tennis player when Anton was a young boy. Taken out of school to further his career, he lived in isolation and social awkwardness. The narration is told in his voice as he has a love/hate relationship with the game of tennis, his father and who he is. He comes to know that he has an identity crisis and he finds his comparisons in classic novels.
I was deeply taken with his story and the battle he faced. It was descriptive in how he dealt with his emotions to how he played the game of tennis. With name dropping of tennis players, you were brought into how competitive and the head games that are played. I really enjoyed this one.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
A well written prose in the realm of tennis and an over bearing father, a son Anton Stratis who struggles to be the hero of his own story and to find connection with others. His father saw in his son, his potential to be a #1 tennis player when Anton was a young boy. Taken out of school to further his career, he lived in isolation and social awkwardness. The narration is told in his voice as he has a love/hate relationship with the game of tennis, his father and who he is. He comes to know that he has an identity crisis and he finds his comparisons in classic novels.
I was deeply taken with his story and the battle he faced. It was descriptive in how he dealt with his emotions to how he played the game of tennis. With name dropping of tennis players, you were brought into how competitive and the head games that are played. I really enjoyed this one.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
July 28, 2017
As the author of BREAKING AND HOLDING, which has a collegiate tennis player as a major character and tennis as an extended metaphor, I'm always eager to read other novels about tennis. This year, I've read three: THE SINGLES GAME, which I couldn't even finish (unimaginative writing, lots of surface, little substance); BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, which began to read like a YA novel halfway through, and now TROPHY SON. While I felt sympathy for protagonist Anton Stratis, the young player whose father mercilessly drives him to excel at the sport, I didn't find him particularly likable and wasn't inspired to root for him. I didn't find Anton's rise to the ranks of elite players and to number one in the world credible (too sudden, not enough explanation of what made him an outstanding player). Finally, as a tennis fan who loves the sport, I found Brunt's depiction of the rampant use of steroids and performance-enhancing by players including top-level to be worse than disappointing. It angered me. See this NY Times story and you'll agree. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/sp.... I don't know why Mr. Brunt, in this knowledgeable and well-researched novel, chose to include this topic for any reason other than an attempt at sensationalism, which for me, failed miserably.
April 28, 2017
Anton is the golden boy. His father, a retired hedge fund director, has decided that Anton will be a tennis great. As such, he directs all of Anton's time towards practice and matches. Anton, however, has always hated tennis despite his great talent. Pulled out of school before he graduates high school, Anton's life is solely tennis. Panos, his brother is given a Porsche to drive, their father's way of trying to make things even.
This novel examines the life of a prodigy, pushed to give up everything except one goal-oriented activity. He has not been socialized nor has be been educated in any traditional way. He is his father's creation, someone who is destined to fill his father's failed Olympic dreams.
The book is sad and the abuse it depicts is horrendous. There are days over ninety degrees where Anton's father doesn't allow his son to drink water until he has practiced his tennis for hours. I am reminded of some of the tennis greats over time and wonder if their lives in some ways mirror the uni-focused life that Anton lives.
This book is about tennis but it examines a lot more than that. It explores what makes someone great and the sacrifices involved to get to the top.
This novel examines the life of a prodigy, pushed to give up everything except one goal-oriented activity. He has not been socialized nor has be been educated in any traditional way. He is his father's creation, someone who is destined to fill his father's failed Olympic dreams.
The book is sad and the abuse it depicts is horrendous. There are days over ninety degrees where Anton's father doesn't allow his son to drink water until he has practiced his tennis for hours. I am reminded of some of the tennis greats over time and wonder if their lives in some ways mirror the uni-focused life that Anton lives.
This book is about tennis but it examines a lot more than that. It explores what makes someone great and the sacrifices involved to get to the top.
November 17, 2021
“Being the hero of my own life is about something else, something internal. It’s about who has their hands on the steering wheel that’s inside me. It needed to be me and it never was then, and I didn’t understand that until much later.”
I have a little experience in world of tennis. My son was on the junior tennis circuit in England. At 18 years old, he became the county’s single champion, then decided to give it up when he went to college.
The story starts off with many similarities with Andre Agassi’s background with a domineering father, although Anton doesn’t end up attending a tennis academy. The book addresses many of the features of a professional athlete’s rise in their sport, including performance-enhancing drugs, a sports psychologist, family expectations, and the commitment at such a young age.
I wanted to like Anton, the story’s professional tennis player, but the character felt a little flat to me. We are spoon fed a lot of his emotions, and I think the story would have been better told through actions and a better use of the psychologist sessions.
I have a little experience in world of tennis. My son was on the junior tennis circuit in England. At 18 years old, he became the county’s single champion, then decided to give it up when he went to college.
The story starts off with many similarities with Andre Agassi’s background with a domineering father, although Anton doesn’t end up attending a tennis academy. The book addresses many of the features of a professional athlete’s rise in their sport, including performance-enhancing drugs, a sports psychologist, family expectations, and the commitment at such a young age.
I wanted to like Anton, the story’s professional tennis player, but the character felt a little flat to me. We are spoon fed a lot of his emotions, and I think the story would have been better told through actions and a better use of the psychologist sessions.
August 12, 2017
It was very hard to tell what was non-fiction and when fiction took over. It read like a true story as many of the characters mentioned are real people! I know zip about tennis but really enjoyed the book. It is a shame to see parents trying to live vicariously through their children - especially when they are wealthy and overbearing!! It is way to common in these days of affluence - their is a great lesson to be learned from this story.
June 19, 2017
This was good! I played tennis growing up so I'm trying to work out if it would be as interesting to people who have no interest in the sport. I think so. It reads like a true story of a prodigy turned pro player and the loneliness and isolation that comes from it. It was a quick read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
August 2, 2017
Wow! Hard to believe how much I liked this book. I have never played a game of tennis in my life, attended a tournament or watched on television yet the story kept me engaged and turning the pages. The first person voice felt so authentic that 50 pages in I had to check that this was a novel and not an autobiography.
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